New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-09
Weary EUROPEAN TIT1NS.

European peace is becoming more expensive
than European warfare was in NapOleon's time.
France has expended during the last sixteen
wears So, 900, coo, 0CO on her military estab-
ishment alone and when the naval budgets
are added an aggregate is obtained which ade-
quately explains the running up Of the national
Indebtedness to nearly $5.00O,000, 900.
Germany during the same period has expended
$1,61G,OOO, 900 upon its army in addition to
la csh outlay on the fleet The disparity be-
tween their own military budgets and those OF
France has thoroughly frightened General Won
Moltke and the German staff. They have de-
manded an increase of the active army from
427 900 to 4G8,OOO men. SO anxious are they
to obtain at once Al 900 additional soldiers
and twenty -four new batteries of artillery that
they have antedated the septenDial army bill.
This increase of the army on peace footing in
wolves additional financial burdens, when tho
weight of the present arm ,ments is already
producing tremendous strain France when
com pared with Germany is a rich country and
better able to bear the weight of military prepa-
ratons on large scale but the magnitude of
the national deOt-the greatest in the memory
of maitland the e1travagan ce of General Bou-
langer's outlay for war material are creating
grave uneasiness among sober minded Imam
cers. These rival nIions are gradually ex-
hausting themselves i'll ceaseless preparations
for war during period of profound peace.
The time IS approaching when the issues of
European war or peace will be determined
largely by masses of capital and population.
Military critics abroad have always sneered at
the military qualities displayed North and
South during the American civil conflict. They
have asserted that it was essentially war Of
populations and industrial resources; neither
army was familiar v it'll the principles of mill
tary science; each side had to learn how to
fight; and the North eventually won because it
had greater industrial resources and laIe ger
population from which to recruit its decimated
armies. These cynical criticisms now recol
upon their authors The question of indeii-
nitcly maintaining peace by converting every
great nation into a vast barrack has already
become a financial and industrial problem.
French finances are in extreme disorder; Ger
man economists are at their wits end to pro-
vide for the.army budget impoverished Aus
tria- Hungary reluctantly votes $15,0GO,00O
for Mauser rifles and extra military prepara-
tOns the Italian treasury, protected by recent
good management, is now depleted by mex
pected army expenses and Russia, while con-
stantly massiDg troops in Southeastern Europe,
cannot induce the Rothschlds or any CONT
mental syndicate to look at new loan on any
terms. The pace at which the nations are rid
ing to war is firing them ont. The tremendous
strain of military establishments on peace
footing is becoming intOlerable. Europe, like
weary Titan. is sinking under its ornaments.
Which nation in the circle of armed camps will
be the first to give out
In like manner the question Of ultimate sue
cess in war may come in time to be decided by
the census tables. Even if the Powers can 60
on year after year arming and recruiting and
have money or credit left for adding to their
present establishments, when they take the
field the issue must rest with the hcay lest bat
taliOns. The military systems of every capital
mark the perfection of science; an improved
arm adopted in one country is introduced
throughout the Continents and the art of war
Is to-day the best-known trade in Europe.
Where there is equal science on both sides q